"This isn't a man of Ruun at all. He's an _Earthman_!" * * * * * Birrel realized what had happened. The blow, the blood streaming down his face, had effectively ruined the careful work of Connor's make-up experts. Before he could resist, Vannevan rubbed a handkerchief across his face. Birrel, a little dazed and half-blinded by the blood in his eyes, struck out savagely but hit nothing. Kara's voice reached him. "Rett, you can't be--" Her voice trailed away, and then it came on a different note. "But you're not Rett. He's right, you're an Earthman. Where's Rett?" Birrel got his eyes open, and now he could see her face, and Holmer's, and the pallor of shocked surprise on both. He felt a queer guilt. There was no reason for it, they were spies and he was a counter-spy defending his country, defending Earth, but he couldn't rid himself of the feeling. "Yes," said Vannevan fiercely, "where is Rett? Where's the man you've been impersonating?" Birrel looked at him and said nothing. One of the Irrians came to Vannevan's side and spoke so rapidly that Birrel could not follow it. Vannevan said somberly to him, "Your people--the Earth people--have this Rett, don't they? They captured him, didn't they?" That was so obvious that there was no use denying it. "They did," said Birrel. "And they disguised you as Rett, and published that report of a captured spy, to draw the others," Vannevan said, "Of course. Which means--they know there are strangers on their world." Holmer said, with a taunt in his voice, "You don't like it, do you, Vannevan? It spoils the plans of Ir, doesn't it?" Vannevan looked at him. "No. There will be no check at all in the plans of Ir. And when we've got what we need from Earth, our plans for _your_ world will go right ahead. Be sure of that." Birrel's mind vainly tried to grapple with the hint in that byplay. Then this was not merely a personal enmity, or a factional one? Then the world of Ir and the world of Ruun--wherever those far worlds might be--were enemies? Then the Irrians, at least, had come to Earth secretly for something they needed for conquest? It didn't make sense! These star-strangers had already used weapons far subtler and more complex than any weapon of Earth. Why would they need to filch the arms of a less scientifically advanced planet? "_You_ can wait," said Vannevan to Birrel, with a certain contempt. He turned and looked at Holmer and Kara. "But you two are important. No word is going back to Ruun of our plans! Where is your ship hidden?" "Where is the ship of Ir hidden?" countered Holmer. Vannevan smiled grimly. "Where you couldn't find it. And you've tried long enough, haven't you? This planet has a lot of wild places. Which one is your ship hidden in?" Holmer merely laughed. "You'll tell, one of you," promised Vannevan. He spoke to the Irrian beside him. "The man, first. Take him upstairs. He'll talk more freely and readily if she can't hear him."